CT: You point out that the „new Calvinists“ gained influence by adopting technology. How do you see those tools shaping the movement?

Challies: You can’t really understand new Calvinism apart from the Internet. It allowed us to hear from these people in an unprecedented way. We seem to have short attention spans, and much of what we’re learning and hearing comes through social media. Far more people are getting John Piper in 140-character chunks than are listening to his 45-minute sermons, which means we’re not learning in more holistic ways.

CT: Is a specifically Reformed understanding of technology possible?

Challies: If it is, I don’t know that I want to major in it. But certainly, I am Reformed in my understanding of God’s sovereignty over all creation and my heightened sense of human depravity. A Reformed understanding would take into account God’s sovereignty even over technology as the starting point and ending point. God saw fit to allow us technology, and God cares how we use it. Our job is to ensure that we’re using technology in a way that’s subject to his authority.

CT: Does the emphasis on depravity lead to a stronger sense of caution or skepticism toward new technologies?

Challies: I think Reformed theology causes us to expend more effort understanding our sinfulness. That might give us a different starting point when we look at technology. We might have more reasons to doubt ourselves, but we also need a heightened sense of God’s sovereignty.